ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Russell Wilson said that in the days following the Denver Broncos’ first win over the Kansas City Chiefs since 2015, team officials approached him about adjusting the guaranteed salary in his contract, and that if he refused, he would be “banned for the rest of the year”.
Coach Sean Payton announced Wednesday that Wilson will lose his starting job to Jarrett Stidham for Sunday’s home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Payton said it was strictly a decision based on “winning” and “getting the team going offensively.”
But Wilson said Friday that the Broncos approached him about waiving a guarantee on the five-year, $242.6 million contract he signed in 2022. That deal gave the veteran quarterback — who was already guaranteed get $39 million guaranteed in 2024 whether he’s on the team or not – another $37 million (his 2025 salary) if he doesn’t pass a physical on the fifth day of the new league year in March.
Sources close to the team said Denver hopes to adjust the timeline of that guarantee.
On Friday, Wilson said team officials told him “the Monday or Tuesday” after the Broncos’ Oct. 29 win over the Chiefs that they were going to bench him if he didn’t adjust that guarantee. of $37 million.
“They made it clear to me that I was going to be benched all year,” Wilson said. Throughout our bye week (in week 9), I didn’t know what was going to happen. I was going to be ready to play, I wanted to go beat the Bills (November 13). I wasn’t going to give up the injury guarantee, it’s a physical sport that I played for 12 seasons. »
“I wanted to be able to play, I want to help this team win. I know that every time I step on the field, it’s a physical sport. I never play shyly; I never play with fear. »
The Broncos were 3-5 after their win over the Chiefs and an injury to Wilson in the final nine games of the season would have triggered the guarantee if the injury was serious enough to cause him to fail a physical test in March. Wilson said the NFL and Players Association “got involved” and he remained the starter for the Broncos, who posted wins over the Bills, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns in the following weeks.
But with losses in the last four games, including Sunday against the New England Patriots after which Payton openly criticized the offense, Wilson has officially been benched.
After Friday’s practice, Payton continued to insist the move was about “winning” and that he was “not aware” of the discussions surrounding Wilson’s sidelining due to his contractual situation. He referred to general manager George Paton and president Greg Penner.
“I’m not privy to those discussions, I’m dealing with the football side of things,” Payton said Friday.
“This is something that concerns George and the management, I am not involved at that level. I’m certainly involved in many aspects and there will be a time and place after the season where some of your questions may be answered by someone else who is able to answer them. »
He added: “I know what has been written, but this decision is strictly to give us the best chance of getting our win number 8 in my opinion. This is a difficult decision…there will be no other reason. »
Wilson said he hopes to stay with the Broncos in the future, but admitted he has considered the option of not having a future in Denver.
“I hope it’s here (my future), I hope it’s here for a long time. I hope we win some more Hall of Fame trophies and win some more championships. If it’s not here, I’ll be prepared for it to be somewhere else, but I hope it’s here. I really mean it, I brought my family here. »
2023-12-29 18:45:00
#NFL #Russell #Wilson #threatened #benched #adjust #guarantee
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